Thirsty? Take Your Pick of Tonight’s Many Beer Bashes

You'd think for as long as I've kept my public beer calendar, local bars would try to coordinate a little better by now. But a night like tonight, with a uniquely high number of beer events, is only a problem for people like me—those so bonkers for beer that they seriously consider bellying up to a half dozen bars in the same evening.

Whether you hit just one or try to make it to all five, it's a great night to enjoy craft beer in the District. Here's a rundown of what rare brews are being poured and where.

"The Great Chouffe" Party at Pizzeria Paradiso Dupont (5 p.m.) – Belgian brewery Brasserie d'Achouffe, easily recognized by the "chouffe," or gnome, adorning their bottles and tap handles, is the focus of this draft night. Six brews will be featured on tap, including rarities Gnomegang, a collaboration blonde ale brewed with house yeasts from both Brewery Ommegang and Achouffe, and Biere du Soleil, a 4.5 percent alcohol-by-volume pale ale. Also on draft will be La Chouffe bottle-conditioned blonde; the dark, malty Mc Chouffe Scotch ale; the hoppy Houblon Chouffe Belgian pale ale; and N’Ice Chouffe, a strong, dark winter ale spiced with with thyme and curaçao.

"Fermentation Without Representation" Tapping atMeridian Pint (5 p.m.) – Be among the first to try this Imperial pumpkin porter brewed by DC Brau and Epic Brewing Company of Salt Lake City. Two versions, one brewed out west and another brewed here in D.C., will be available, and DC Brau's Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock and Epic founder Dave Cole will be on hand to talk about the beer.

Schlafly 20th Anniversary Party at ChurchKey (6 p.m.) – Twenty drafts will be flowing with Schlafly beers to celebrate the St. Louis brewing company's 20th year of business. Co-founder Dan Kopman will share several rare and interesting brews, including Optic, a unique golden ale brewed with ingredients from Auld Alliance nations Scotland and France; Hop Harvest 2011, a fresh-hopped ale brewed with delicate Sorachi Ace hops; and Citrus Witbier, a third-generation Schlafly concoction spiced with orange, lemon and grapefruit peels and coriander.

Lost Rhino Tap Takeover atIron Horse Taproom (6 p.m.) – Penn Quarter hang Iron Horse will host Lost Rhino Brewing Company of nearby Ashburn, Va., for an evening of local beer. Founders Matt Hagerman and Favio Garcia are likely to bring a few surprises including what's left of their Rhino'Fest fall seasonal. Previous releases like their bold Face Plant IPA (India pale ale) and easy drinking Rhino Chasers Pils or New River Pale Ale are likely to be on tap as well.

Belgian Coffee Week Beer Dinner at Locolat Café(7 p.m.) – As part of a week-long celebration of beer's darker, roasted cousin, Locolat is putting on a six-course beer dinner featuring dishes by chefs Geert Piferoen and Niel Piferoen. Additional special guests Patrick Hanssens, owner of Goortmoeders Coffee of Belgium, and local beer sommelier Jens Piferoen will guide diners through each course. Beers include Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel and other Belgian gems. Price is $70 per person and reservations can be made at (301) 741-1512.